Photographs of senior members of Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) have appeared on lampposts in Derrylin and Ballyconnell.

The signs which also make accusations against key figures at the manufacturing company once owned by businessman Sean Quinn appeared in the Border area last Thursday night.

It comes weeks after a suspected arson attack was carried out by persons unknown at a tyre plant in Belturbet linked to the family of a QIH senior executive.

Hours before the incident the group’s chairman wrote to staff warning of a “resumption of false allegations and intimidation against QIH, its owners, officers and staff”.

The letter to all QIH staff by Mr. Adrian Barden, written on behalf of the board and the US hedge funds that control the business, was in response to a public meeting last month in Cavan in support of Mr. Quinn.

“This meeting comes on the heels of an onslaught of negative messaging and false information posted online, as well as physical intimidation against officers, directors and staff of QIH and their families,” wrote Mr. Barden.

Mr. Quinn rejoined as a consultant in 2015 when US funds backed a local buyout of old Quinn Group assets, but left again in 2016 after a dispute with the new owners.

At the meeting last month, an emotional Mr. Quinn criticised the running of the business and claimed it needs “major capital investment” and reiterated that he wants to buy it back.

“So it is a mess. Could I sort it out? Well let’s put it this way, I don’t think there’s anybody [else] that would be able to sort it out better,” he said.

In his letter, Mr. Barden criticised a “resurgence of negativity and misinformation” about QIH and promised “robust” action against anonymous critics, “commencing with legal action against those propagating misinformation online.”

“The external activity propagated is a distraction and an enormous misjudgement that only serves to weaken the agenda of those involved in such activities, putting jobs and the economic vitality of the community at risk.

“The resurgence of negativity and misinformation will not distract our focus of continuing to be strong stewards of the business, and we will make every effort to steer this company on a continued successful path. A small group will not detract us from this objective.”

In 2016 there was widespread concern following several sinister incidents along the Fermanagh/Cavan Border, including death threats, intimidation, sabotage, a worker being threatened with a gun and a pig’s head left at the doorstep of a company executive.

Mr. Quinn, who originally founded the business, has publicly condemned attacks against QIH personnel and property in the past.

Reacting to the latest incident, a spokesman for QIH told The Impartial Reporter this week: "QIH continues to refer anonymous incidents of intimidation and criminality to the Gardaí and PSNI so that the company and its staff can get on with continuing to grow the business and local employment."